Summer’s Uninvited Guests: Yellow Jackets

Summer’s Uninvited Guests: Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets are like annoying houseguests that never want to leave. They want to move into your home, eat all your food, and then become aggressive when you bother them. Make your property less hospitable with a few of our tips and, if necessary, call Truly Nolen to help send these unwelcome guests packing!

They Like What’s on the Menu

Yellow jackets enjoy many of the same types of foods you like to eat: sweets, proteins, and sugary drinks. Adult yellow jackets need sugars to survive while their larvae need protein, which means you’ll often find these wasps grabbing a bite of your cheeseburgers and hotdogs to take back to the nest or they will be buzzing around your desserts and soda cans looking for a sweet treat for themselves.

They Want to Move In (with Their Whole Family)

Yellow jacket nests can be found in tree branches, fallen leaves, or the hollow of trees. They can often be found under porches, in the corners of homes, under the siding, and in the gutters. Certain species of yellow jackets may also build their nest underground. While most nests are usually small, some can house an enormous population of wasps since a single queen can lay about 25,000 eggs!

They Are Aggressive and Persistent Stingers

Yellow jackets may attack your family, guests, and pets if they feel threatened, but they can also attack with little to no provocation. They will continue to pursue their victims, and often if one yellow jacket attacks you, many more are likely to follow suit. While bees usually die after a single sting (because their stinger falls of their body), yellow jackets do not lose their stingers and can sting multiple times.

Make Your Surroundings Less Hospitable

Protect yourself and your property by making it a little less appealing to yellow jackets.

Cover trash: Keep all trash and recyclables in bins with tight fitting lids as far away from your home and yard as possible.

Clean up food: Avoid leaving food or drinks outside and uncovered for any amount of time and quickly clean up any spills.

Repair windows and screens: Make sure all of your windows and doors are secure and have good screens on them to prevent yellow jackets from entering your home.

Avoidance: Avoid swatting and squashing yellow jackets. When a yellow jacket is squashed, a chemical (pheromone) is released that attracts and incites nearby yellow jackets. Avoid wearing sweet perfumes, lotions, or soaps, and wearing bright colors or floral patterns when spending time outside.